Unite boss, Sharon Graham, joins Birmingham bin worker rally as strikes pass one year mark

The leader of Unite is due to join a rally with striking bin workers in Birmingham today (Thursday 19 March) as their year-long walkout continues.

Union members started an all-out strike in March last year in a dispute over pay, with little or no sign of a deal to end the deadlock.

General secretary Sharon Graham will renew Unite’s support for the strikers during the rally on Thursday, which follows the announcement of a fine against the union of £265,000, with £170,000 costs, after the council took legal action over picketing.

Ms Graham said: “Our members taking industrial action have Unite’s unwavering support.

“The council should now honour the deal scoped out at Acas and stop wasting millions of pounds of residents’ money on failed attempts to break the strike.

“Workers and communities should not be paying the price for the clear failings of the council’s management.”

Last week on the anniversary of the all-out strike beginning, Unite’s executive council voted to cut its affiliation fee to Labour by 40% (£580,000) in protest against the party’s stance on the dispute.

Majid Mahmood, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said after the fine was announced: “We are pleased the judge has accepted the evidence that members of Unite repeatedly breached the injunction ordered by the court earlier this year.

“We are working to keep the city safe and clean and thanks to the injunction have maintained a weekly collection for Birmingham families.

“The fine of £265,000 – plus £170,000 interim payment in relation to the council’s legal costs – will send a clear message about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not.”

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